Chapter 5

Rogue quickly disembarked from the carriage his plan already beginning to stimulate to look for reinforcements. He needed Gajeel's help. The guards unsteadily shifted their feet as if trying to control their malice and bloodlust from over 6 years ago. The old PhantomLord was something that was old and decrepit. King Melticana had gone, and was still, missing during Gajeel's childhood so during that time it was agreed that the castle advisor would have to step in before Gajeel was even old enough to know the difference between right and wrong. Then everything had gone terribly wrong. PhantomLord's once happy kingdom rapidly changed into a kingdom known for bloodlust which would kill even its own citizens if they disagreed with the ruler Jose's desires.

Rogue hugged, His daughter. A bonus. Their mockery was something that was going to cause them to meet the end of their fates. Right now he was fully prepared to get his hands dirty and stained the way he had on the day he had oh so many years ago when he released a siege upon PhantomLord. It often the walls of PhantomLord's castle would be soaked in blood on such nights. He had made sure that the stains on the wall were of PhantomLord's army only that night. A growl of pure bliss almost erupted from his throat as he attempted to conceal the thoughts of malice and bloodlust that were positively echoing within himself.

"I need to speak to Gajeel" his voice coming out smooth and silky, the opposite of the bloodlust raging in his own beating vessel. The guard nodded leading him inside. Where the Metal Dragon-Slayer king was sitting at his throne apparently in deep conversation with his newly dubbed Queen Levy.

"Sir! Someone has come to speak with you!" The guard announced hurrying out of the room before Gajeel could demand who was important enough to interrupt his personal time with his queen without an arranged request. Grinding his teeth Rogue moved himself to the position that a person would normally bow within this castle. Being met with immediate laughter from Gajeel. "Get up Ryos."

Gajeel's smile feel, "why do you smell like that?" As another member of royalty he had inherited dragonblood, the only thing Gajeel could possibly be talking about would be the bloodlust radiating off of him. Rogue opened his mouth to speak, Queen Levy looking innocently towards him waiting to honestly listen to his plead, his voice lost. "Ryos?" Gajeel questioned hesitantly.

"They..."

"Ryos? Are you okay man?"

"They took my daughter."

There was silence in the castle hall as Gajeel stared wide-eyed down towards where Rogue was standing.

"Who did Ryos?" Gajeel's voice came in a low rumbling growl that reverberated around the castle's throne room.

"The PhantomLord FaceHunters" Rogue growled as Gajeel's eyes went wide.

"They haven't been active in years" Gajeel growled beckoning a guard, the one who retrieves the mail, closer.

"...Do you know their motive?" Gajeel growled as Rogue felt a bubble of disappointment rise within his own chest. The Shadow king responded with a shake of his head, Gajeel took a swift glance towards Levy. "I need you to stay with a guard at all times right now." He whispered as she puffed her cheeks.

The petite woman squeaked, "I can handle it!", glancing away as Gajeel's arm became tighter around her.

"I'm not taking any chances, okay? Not with our child." Gajeel whispered back to her as she, reluctantly, nodded.

"There was a note." Rogue explained as Gajeel glanced back towards him as Rogue unsteadily unfolded the note.

"I was hoping you could identify this smell. The one on the paper." Rogue said as Gajeel nodded taking the note.

"No promises you know that." Gajeel explained as Rogue nodded.

"Just...the tiniest little thing. I need to find them." Rogue whispered drawing the king's attention once again. He had picked up on that change in detail.

"Them?" He asked as Rogue nodded attempting not to look away.

"They didn't just take Rio...they took Artemis and her daughter." Gajeel raised his eyebrow staring at Rogue.

"Okay...we've got possible motives and intentions." Gajeel sighed rubbing his "eyebrows" as they attempted to discover why anyone would want to kidnap the people in question. Levy headed out of the room with a quick word of returning.

"Gajeel..." Rogue whispered feeling the words choke not being able to form themselves. Words he was struggling to speak to the man that had identified himself as his elder brother even though he was more of an adopted child in this castle.

"I know." Gajeel whispered patting him on the back. "I've always taken care of my little brother haven't I?" Gajeel attempted smiling as Rogue stood up swinging around following pace of where Gajeel was heading. "These people...they smell like the castle in the "old" days of this kingdom." Gajeel explained as Rogue nodded.

"...What if...what if they take her eyes?" Rogue whispered staring at the floor. For now Rio thought her eyes were some form of curse that made her mother ill...but her eyes...they were honestly something that was sold on the black market. Targeting people with the unnatural eye color. And then it was also his fault. That she was a princess her eyes would be priced twice as high. Surely...surely, they wouldn't let her keep them. The thoughts made Rogue grind his teeth as he attempted to suppress a growl so the king of PhantomLord wouldn't hear it. An incident with such similarities, and possible motive for their eyes, hadn't happened in years.

"We're going to need a search party...also the one piece of vital information we're forgetting..." Gajeel paused as Rogue nodded. "There's another dangerous criminal on the loose.